Gal Gadot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gal Gadot
גל גדות‎
Gadot in 2017
Born	(1985-04-30) 30 April 1985 (age 39) Petah Tikva, Israel
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2004–present
Height	5'10" (178 cm)
Spouse(s)	Jaron Varsano ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	4
Beauty pageant titleholder
Agency	IMG Models ADD agency [he] Untitled Entertainment
Major competition(s)	Miss Israel 2004 (Winner) Miss Universe 2004 (Unplaced)
Military service
Allegiance	Israel
Service/branch	Israel Defense Forces
Years of service	2005–2007
Rank	Samal (Sergeant)
Signature

Gal Gadot (Hebrew: גל גדות‎, pronounced [ˈɡal ɡaˈdot]; born 30 April 1985) is an Israeli actress, best known for portraying Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe films (2016–2023). She first gained attention in Israel after winning the Miss Israel pageant in 2004. After completing her two-year service in the Israeli Defense Forces, Gadot began her acting career with a role in the Israeli television series Bubot in 2007. She later achieved wider fame with her supporting role as Gisele Yashar in the Fast & Furious franchise, beginning in 2009.

Her breakout role came in 2016, when she portrayed Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman. The success of the film led to her starring in Wonder Woman (2017), which became a major box office hit. She also reprised the role in Justice League (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). Since then, she has starred in Red Notice (2021), Death on the Nile (2022), and Heart of Stone (2023). In addition to her acting career, Gadot co-founded the production company Pilot Wave Motion Pictures with her husband.

Gadot was the highest-grossing actress of 2017 and ranked as the third highest-grossing actor overall. In 2018, she was named one of Time's 100 most influential people and ranked by Forbes as the tenth highest-paid actress, later rising to third in 2020. Widely celebrated in Israel as a national icon and ambassador, she is admired for her military service and global representation of Israel. Her strong support for the Israeli military has sparked both praise and criticism.

Early life

Gadot was born on 30 April 1985 in Petah Tikva, Israel, where she first lived; she was later raised in the city of Rosh HaAyin. In Hebrew, her given name means "wave" and her surname means "riverbanks". Her father is Michael Gadot, an engineer, and her mother is Irit Gadot (née Weiss), a physical education teacher. Prior to her birth, her parents had Hebraized their surname from "Greenstein" to "Gadot"; her father is a sixth-generation Sabra (i.e. Israel-born Jew). She has a younger sister named Dana. Gadot has stated that she was brought up in a "very Jewish, Israeli family environment" and is of Ashkenazi descent. Her maternal grandparents were born in 20th-century Europe; her grandfather survived the Holocaust following his imprisonment at the Auschwitz concentration camp during Nazi Germany's occupation of Czechslovakia, while her grandmother managed to escape the continent before the outbreak of World War II.

Growing up in Israel, Gadot learned and danced jazz and hip-hop for 12 years, and her first jobs were working at a local Burger King as well as babysitting. She graduated from Begin High School in Rosh HaAyin, majoring in biology. As Jewish high schools in Israel often take their sophomores on trips to Holocaust memorial sites, Gadot went to Poland to gain a first-hand understanding of two Nazi concentration camps: Auschwitz and Majdanek. About the experience, she reminisced: "I stood there on top of a mountain of ashes. I, an entitled child, felt the suffering the Muselmann experienced back then. When it was time to give my speech at the memorial ceremony, my eyes filled up with tears, and I could not control the shivering. I returned home more mature and cried with my grandfather about that, coming a full circle from his childhood to mine."

At age 18, Gadot entered the national beauty pageant Miss Israel under the impression that it would be a "fun" experience, and stated in a Glamour interview: "I never thought I would win." At age 20, she enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat fitness instructor as part of her mandatory two years of military service. She has said that her military background helped her to win the role of Gisele Yashar in the 2009 film Fast & Furious, stating: "I think the main reason was that the director Justin Lin really liked that I was in the military, and he wanted to use my knowledge of weapons." After her military service, Gadot studied law at IDC Herzliya in Israel.

Career

2004–2007: Miss Israel, IDF service and Maxim's photoshoot

Gadot entered the Miss Israel national beauty pageant at 18, under the impression that it would be a "fun" experience, and stated in a Glamour interview: "I never thought I would win." The 5'10" model, was crowned Miss Israel and received a Citroën C3 supermini car. She then represented Israel in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant in Ecuador but admitted she intentionally "rebelled" to avoid winning by showing up late and refusing to wear an evening gown. Before parting ways with the crown, Gadot emphasized the importance of serving in the Israeli army, saying, "Serving in the army is an integral part of the lives of the youth here [Israel]. Beyond my contribution, I believe that this period will contribute greatly to me as well." In 2005, a week after passing on the crown, Gadot, at 20, was conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces. After excelling in a three-month boot camp, she served as a combat trainer, teaching soldiers gymnastics and calisthenics. Gadot also practiced Krav Maga, the official martial art of Israel's military. She completed her mandatory two-year service, of which only 20 days were in uniform. In July 2007, she landed an international campaign for "Prada Ellis" perfume. Later in December 2007, she began working as a spokesmodel for the Israeli clothing brand Castro, a role she held for 11 seasons. Industry estimates suggest she earned approximately $100,000 per season. In 2013, Gabi Rotter, CEO of Castro, stated that Gadot wasn’t famous when chosen but was the "perfect fit to represent Israeli beauty." She followed in the footsteps of models like Yael Abecassis and Sandi Bar, with her background as an IDF soldier and beauty pageant participant contributing to her selection.

2008–2012: Fast & Furious and early acting work

Gadot then pursued law and international studies at IDC Herzliya (now Reichman University). After her first year, a casting director from London contacted Gadot’s agent after seeing her modeling card on the agency's wall, leading her to audition for the role of Camille Montes in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. In a 2017 interview with W Magazine, Gadot recalled her initial reaction to the role, saying she felt "too serious and smart to be an actress" because of her studies and wasn’t comfortable speaking in English. Her agent encouraged her to go, saying, "Just go, please, out of respect." Gadot shared that the casting director helped her, and she went through several callbacks. Throughout the experience, Although she lost the role to Olga Kurylenko, Gadot found the experience "interesting" and told her agents to let her know if any other opportunities came up that might be a better fit for her. She dropped out of IDC Herzliya and, two months later, made her acting debut in the 2007 Israeli drama Bubot. She later performed in Festigal Underwater, an annual Israeli musical show for kids during Hanukkah, where she performed as a mermaid, acting, singing, and dancing.

Three months after her Quantum of Solace audition, the same casting director called her again, looking for a new actress for Fast & Furious. Gadot was chosen over six other actresses for the role of Gisele Yashar in the fourth film of the franchise, and has stated that her military background helped her secure the role, stating: "I think the main reason was that the director Justin Lin really liked that I was in the military, and he wanted to use my knowledge of weapons." That same year, Gadot made a brief appearance in the TV series Entourage in the episode titled "Amongst Friends," portraying Lisa, a date of the main character, Vincent Chase. She then appeared on the American teen drama, The Beautiful Life: TBL.

In 2010, Gadot was featured as the covergirl on Cosmopolitan, and had small roles in the action-adventure comedy Knight and Day and the action comedy Date Night, which took her five days to film her scenes with Mark Wahlberg. In 2011, Gadot reprising her role as Gisele in Fast Five, and also appeared on an episode of Asfur. In 2012, she starred the Israeli drama, Kathmandu, set in Nepal, the series follows a Chabad couple running a sanctuary for Jewish travelers. Sources in the industry estimate that Gadot earned over NIS3,000 per day of filming, which is around US$800.

2013–2016: Breakthrough as Wonder Woman

Gadot at the Fast & Furious 6 premiere in City Walk.

In 2013, she returned to the Fast & Furious franchise, reprising her character in Fast & Furious 6, where she performed some of her own stunt work in the film. She also graced the cover Entertainment Weekly. In November 2013, Variety reported that Gadot, along with other actresses, had tested for the role of Wonder Woman. In December 2013, Gadot was confirmed for the role in the untitled Batman v Superman movie alongside Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck, directed by Zack Snyder. The contract for her portrayal of Wonder Woman was handled by Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein of the ADD agency, which represents Gadot in both Israel and overseas. Reflecting on her audition in a 2016 Variety interview, Gadot described the process as "super intensive, nerve-racking, a long roller coaster." While in Los Angeles, Warner Bros. invited her to audition for an undisclosed role with Zack Snyder. Later, her agent informed her she would test with Ben Affleck. Finally, Snyder called and asked, "Have you ever heard of Wonder Woman?." After a successful camera test with Ben Affleck and weeks of waiting, she got the role. Overwhelmed with joy, she called herself "the luckiest girl in the world." Before landing the role Gadot explained her frustration with the constant rejection she faced while auditioning in Los Angeles, saying, "There’s so much no," after working on a few Fast and Furious films, She considered leaving acting, saying, "Maybe it’s not for me. … Maybe I should go back to law school instead of dragging my family with me.” Gadot revealed that acting wasn’t something she had dreamed of as a child, but rather, the opportunity came to her. "I started to become more curious about it, and then I fell in love with the profession," she shared. For the role Gadot received lessons in swordsmanship, Kung Fu, kickboxing, capoeira and Brazilian jiu-jitsu to prepare for the role.

In December 2013, Gadot signed a two-year contract with the Israeli skincare company Carline. According to Ofer Yaar from the advertising agency Bruckner Neta Yaar, Gadot was selected as the spokesmodel because she embodies the brand's values, being "local and international, she exudes simplicity and accessibility, and she is your best friend, even when she is Wonder Woman." In June 2014, she signed a three-picture deal with Warner Bros. to appear as Wonder Woman, reportedly earning $300,000 per film.

Gadot, speaking at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2014 for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice at the San Diego Convention Center.

In July 2014, Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman was unveiled at Comic-Con during the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice panel. She appeared in a battle armor-inspired costume, featuring a tiara, gauntlets, and a sword. Despite prior criticism of her physique, Gadot stated that she had worked to build muscle for the role, moving past her previous Fast & Furious image. Later, Gadot graced the cover of UMM, and landed her first Israeli film role in the comedy Kicking Out Shoshana, where she played the lead female character, Mirit Ben-Harush. Later that year, she was offered the lead role in the Hollywood remake of Ben-Hur (2016) but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts with Batman v Superman. Additionally, she appeared on Cleo (2015) and become the face of Gucci's Bamboo perfume brand.

In 2016, Gadot debuted as Wonder Woman in the superhero film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. She was almost cast as Faora-Ul in Man of Steel, but she rejected the part for her pregnancy. Antje Traue was cast instead. Gadot's performance as the superhero, which was the character's first appearance in film, was singled out as one of the best parts of the film. Her portrayal of Wonder Woman quickly became a defining role in her career, with critics praising her for bringing strength, grace, and a refreshing depth to the character. Critics particularly noted how she brought a strong sense of empowerment and integrity to the role, setting a new standard for female superheroes in mainstream cinema. She then had a small role in John Hillcoat's crime-thriller Triple 9, where she starred along with Kate Winslet and Aaron Paul. Later that year, she co-starred in the action crime thriller film Criminal, as the wife of Ryan Reynolds' character, alongside Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, and Tommy Lee Jones. Her final film of the year was the action comedy Keeping Up with the Joneses, in which she played a secret agent, alongside Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, and Isla Fisher. Critic Alex Welch wrote on IGN about Gadot's performance: "the script unfortunately banks mostly on her looks and deadly skills as a spy for her jokes, but Gadot manages to make it work."

2017–2020: Wonder Woman solo films and production ventures

Cast of Wonder Woman at the Los Angeles premiere, from left to right: Danny Huston, Chris Pine, Gadot, director Patty Jenkins, Elena Anaya, and Robin Wright.

In 2017, Gadot starred in a solo film for her character, Wonder Woman, which was paid $300,000. This figure sparked some controversy, as it was significantly lower than the salaries commanded by many male action stars in Hollywood. However, the film received a positive response from critics, with some calling it the best installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Praise was directed at Patty Jenkins's direction, the chemistry between Gadot and Chris Pine, the musical score, and the thrilling action sequences. Due to her former involvement in the Israel Defense Forces, the film has been banned in Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordan, and in several other Middle Eastern countries. She then reprised the role in the ensemble film Justice League, which was released in November 2017, and was her third DC Extended Universe installment. That same year, Gadot was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In the same year, Gadot voiced Shank in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Ralph Breaks the Internet. In January 2018, Gadot has been named the global brand ambassador for Revlon’s “Live Boldly” campaign, which encourages women to embrace "passion, strength, and optimism." Later that year she appeared in the music video for Maroon 5's song "Girls Like You" featuring Cardi B.

In October 2019, Gadot formed a film and television production company, Pilot Wave, with her husband Jaron "Yaron" Varsano. Reflecting on the decision Gadot stated in a 2023 interview with L'Oréal, "the whole idea of starting the production company with my husband [Jaron Versano] was to be in control of my own destiny. I’m not the type of person who likes to sit and wait for the next offer." On 17 January 2020, National Geographic announced Impact with Gal Gadot. The six-part documentary series, executive produced by Gadot and her husband, highlights young women overcoming poverty, violence, and discrimination to create positive change in their communities, premiered in April 2021 across National Geographic's digital and social platforms.

Gadot returned as Wonder Woman in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), for which she reportedly earned $10 million. The sequel to her 2017 solo film was released on 25 December 2020, both in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film received praise for Gadot's performance and the visual effects; however, it garnered mixed reviews from critics, with some finding the plot overly complex and less impactful than the first film.

2021–present: Red Notice, Heart of Stone and live action Snow White

In November 2021, Gadot and her husband launched Goodles, a mac and cheese brand co-founded with "experienced partners" like former Kraft brand executive Paul Earle, with the goal of offering a healthier alternative to traditional boxed mac and cheese. That same month, Gadot starred alongside Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds in the Netflix action comedy film Red Notice, written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. It had strong viewership on Netflix, but was panned by the critics. Benjamin Lee, writing for The Guardian, opined that she was "sleepwalking through the motions" and was "adept only when fighting".

The following year, she co-starred with Kenneth Branagh, Armie Hammer, Ali Fazal, Tom Bateman, and Annette Bening in the 2022 mystery film Death on the Nile, which was also directed by Branagh. Los Angeles Times' chief film critic Justin Chang deemed her "underwhelming" in the film, while The Week's Jesse Hassenger defends Gadot's performance addressing the widespread criticism she received for her portrayal of Linnet Doyle, particularly for a meme-worthy line delivery. The film was banned in Tunisia following protests over Gadot’s Israeli military service and her support for Israel’s 2014 Gaza offensive. This decision, followed by bans in Kuwait and Lebanon, reflects longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.

In 2023, Gadot made uncredited cameo appearances as Wonder Woman in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash. She also returned to the Fast & Furious franchise with a cameo appearance in Fast X. Later that year, she was offered the role of Barbie in Barbie, but she was unavailable. Later that year, she played the lead role of a double agent in Netflix's action film Heart of Stone. The film received mostly negative reviews, with Owen Gleiberman stating: "Gadot is game, but there’s a slightly downbeat earnestness about her that doesn’t mesh with the reflexive quippiness of the dialogue." Gadot will next star as the Evil Queen in a live-action adaptation of Disney's 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She will also star in Julian Schnabel's drama film In the Hand of Dante. In August 2024, calls from pro-Palestinian activists to boycott Disney's Snow White remake emerged due to Gadot's support for Israel.

Advocacy

Gadot identifies as a feminist and promotes women’s empowerment. In 2016, Gadot, fellow Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter, DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson, director Patty Jenkins and U.N. Under-Secretary-General Cristina Gallach appeared at the United Nations on 21 October 2016, the 75th anniversary of the first appearance of Wonder Woman, to mark the character's designation by the United Nations as its "Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls". The gesture was intended to raise awareness of UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030. The decision was met with protests from UN staff members who stated in their petition to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the character is "not culturally encompassing or sensitive" and served to objectify women. As a result, the character was stripped of the designation, and the project ended on 16 December.

In a January 2018 interview with Women's Wear Daily, she highlighted Hollywood’s ongoing cultural shift towards gender equality, calling it necessary and overdue. That same year, she attended the Golden Globes, where she joined fellow actors in wearing black to support the Time's Up movement. Reflecting on the event, Gadot shared, "It was incredibly impactful, and just being part of it felt so powerful and inspiring." Revlon also recognized Gadot's influence in 2018, naming her the face of their "Live Boldly" campaign. Revlon’s global brand president, Anne Talley, described Gadot as a symbol of feminine strength and beauty, embodying the campaign’s message of empowerment and inclusivity. In July 2018, Gadot surprised children at Inova Children’s Hospital in Annandale, Virginia, by visiting them dressed as Wonder Woman. In April 2023, Gadot hosted a special Holocaust Remembrance Day event at her Hollywood home, where she welcomed Holocaust survivors like Celina Biniaz, the youngest survivor of Schindler's List, along with notable Hollywood guests. The event was part of the "Zikaron BaSalon" tradition, which translates to "living room memories" and involves survivors sharing their testimonies in intimate settings. Gadot reflected on the event, saying, "I don’t know about God, but I believe in people, in the power of one’s decision to do good."

Support for Israel

Gadot also a strong supporter of the Israeli military and considers it her duty as a public figure to advocate for Israel. Her stance on this issue has sparked both support and controversy.

During the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Gadot called for peace between the two territories in a statement that drew backlash for expressing support for Israel and referring to the Palestinians as her "neighbours", instead of calling them by name.

24 August 2022, Gadot visited the town of Netiv HaAsara in southern Israel, the closest town to Gaza and a front-line location during clashes between the Israeli military and Gaza. Prior, on 7 August 2022, she was photographed in a missile shelter on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, where she sought refuge with her children during a rocket alert.

In October 2023, Gadot, along with more than 700 other Hollywood professionals, signed an open letter condemning the Palestinian militant group Hamas, demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza, and expressing support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war. In November 2023, Gadot continued her advocacy by organizing a screening of Bearing Witness, an Israeli film showing the violence of Hamas, though she did not attend the screening. In September 2024, Gadot joined Israeli President Isaac Herzog in launching the "Voice of the People" initiative, aimed at fostering global Jewish unity amidst rising antisemitism and the "ongoing hostage crisis."

In January 2025, Gadot participated in Noa Tishby’s "#BringOnTheLight" campaign, celebrating Jewish resilience and joy during Hanukkah. The campaign featured other celebrities who lit the menorah on different nights. Late that month, she faced backlash after attending the 2025 Golden Globes without wearing a yellow ribbon pin, a symbol of support for hostages held by Hamas. Reports then circulated claiming she was forbidden from wearing the pin. In response, Gadot clarified that she was never told not to wear it. Instead, Gadot wore a yellow ring and posted on social media to raise awareness for the hostages' plight.

Imagine (2020)

In March 2020, Gadot and a number of other celebrities, including her Wonder Woman 1984 co-star Kristen Wiig, performed an online version of the song "Imagine" by John Lennon, intended to raise morale during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video received backlash with critics dismissing it as an ineffective response to the pandemic; Jon Caramanica of The New York Times called it "an empty and profoundly awkward gesture". Gadot later acknowledged the video did not garner the positive reaction that had been intended, but was unapologetic in explaining the thinking behind it. In a 2022 interview with InStyle magazine, Gadot admitted that the video was done in "poor taste", but still maintained that it had "pure intentions".

Personal life

Gadot is an avid martial arts enthusiast. She possesses a black belt in both karate and Krav Maga. In 2008, Gadot married Jaron "Yaron" Varsano who was born in Amsterdam, grew up in a Jewish family in the Netherlands, and was a real estate developer in Israel. They reside in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood of Tel Aviv. They have four daughters, born in 2011, 2017, 2021, and 2024. The two formed their own film and television production company, Pilot Wave, in 2019. Gadot and Varsano owned a boutique hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel, which she helped run, that eventually was sold to Russian oligarch and politician Roman Abramovich in 2015 for $26 million.

Gadot ranked second on Forbes Israel's list of top-earning models in 2012, earning NIS 1.3 million (approximately US$350,000), and in 2013, her earnings rose to NIS2.4 million (approximately US$650,000), driven largely by brand endorsements and her role in Fast & Furious. In 2015, Forbes Israel ranked her 49th on their list of "The Most Powerful Women in Israel" and 38th on their list of "Influential Women."

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2009	Fast & Furious	Gisele Yashar
2010	Date Night	Natanya
	Knight and Day	Naomi
2011	Fast Five	Gisele
2013	Fast & Furious 6
2014	Kicking Out Shoshana	Mirit Ben Hatush
2015	Furious 7	Gisele	Credited and appears in a deleted scene
2016	Triple 9	Elena Vlaslov
	Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
	Criminal	Jill Pope
	Keeping Up with the Joneses	Natalie Jones
2017	Wonder Woman	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
	Justice League
2018	Ralph Breaks the Internet	Shank	Voice role
2019	Between Two Ferns: The Movie	Herself	Cameo
2020	Wonder Woman 1984	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman	Also producer
2021	Zack Snyder's Justice League		Director's cut
	Red Notice	Sarah Black/ The Bishop
2022	Death on the Nile	Linnet Ridgeway
2023	Fast X	Gisele	Uncredited appearance in a post-credits scene
	Shazam! Fury of the Gods	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
	The Flash		Uncredited appearance
	Heart of Stone	Rachel Stone	Also producer
2025	Snow White	Evil Queen	Post-production
TBA	In the Hand of Dante	Giulietta Tosches/ Gemma Donati

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations

See also

• Israeli fashion
• Women in Israel
• Women in the Israel Defense Forces
• List of Israelis